Don and Ronna Coe are partners in life, business and giving back

When Don and Ronna Coe met in the late 1970’s, it was all business.  Don moved from the East Coast after being hired as a consultant for a carpet manufacturing business.  Ronna’s career in marketing and accounting led her from the San Fernando Valley to Orange County to join a carpet company working for her former college accounting professor.  Together Don and Ronna were part of a team to restructure that company.

The couple, who married in 1981, settled in Villa Park.  In 1989, they started a family business along with Don’s two sons which they grew into a successful manufacturer of space and defense proprietary electronic systems by relying on their complementary skills to overcome challenges and achieve their goals.

“We were all very motivated, and it took a lot of effort and a lot of risk to get where we are today.  We make a good team.”  After more than 30 years, Ronna & Don passed down the company to the second generation.

The Coe family includes two children from previous marriages and one they share together. They love to dote on their two teenage grandchildren. “We live for our family, and especially our grandchildren,” smiles Ronna.

Unexpected medical crisis

The year before the couple tied the knot, a young 36-year-old Don was putting in some overtime on a Saturday when he started having serious chest pain. He drove himself to Providence St. Joseph Hospital. “When I walked into the ER, they knew something was wrong before I could even say my name,” he remembers. “The next thing I knew, I was on a gurney, and they were cutting off my shirt.”

He was in full cardiac arrest. “I was flatlined,” says Don. “I remember looking down at myself. The alarms were going off, and there were people all around me.” The Providence St. Joseph team revived him, and after a lengthy hospitalization, Don was released under the care of a cardiologist. His near-death experience and the exemplary care he received left an indelible mark, fostering the couple’s lifelong connection to the hospital.

Loyal supporters

Since 2012, Don and Ronna have generously supported various initiatives, with a particular focus on the Heart and Vascular Center. Don is chair of the new Heart & Vascular Leadership Council and Ronna is a member within. As business problem-solvers and innovators, the Coes see parallels between their work in diagnosing and addressing engineering challenges and the hospital’s role in the lives of its patients.

“We know that the hospital needs to keep up with the latest technology,” says Ronna. “We feel that it’s our personal responsibility to support them as much as we can, and we’re committed to doing that.”

Don agrees, “If by supporting the hospital we’ve helped someone who needs care, that’s pretty meaningful.”